A collection of essays by the humorist traces his offbeat travel experiences, which involve surreal encounters with everything from French dentistry and Australian kookaburras to Beijing squat toilets and a wilderness Costco in North Carolina.

A New York Times political feature correspondent examines the power wars and exploitative practices of the government in Washington, D.C., revealing how journalism careers are made and broken while news events and scandals are used as networking platforms.

Daniel James Brown traces the story of an American rowing team from the University of Washington that defeated elite rivals at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics, sharing the experiences of their enigmatic coach, a visionary boat builder and a homeless teen rower.

A retelling of the first Star Wars film re-imagines the saga of a wise knight, an evil lord and a captive princess in iambic pentameter while conveying the valor and villainy of Shakespeare's greatest plays.

The cultural critic questions how modern people understand the concept of villainy and offers insight into the appeal of antiheroes. He describes how his youthful idealism gave way to an adult sympathy with notorious cultural figures.

According to New Yorker writer George Packer, there used to be a kind of understanding among Americans — one in which everyone had a job and a purpose. But that deal has come undone. In The Unwinding, Packer explores what happened. The book is a collection of vignettes and profiles of ordinary and famous American lives, from the son of Southern tobacco farmers to a Silicon Valley billionaire.

Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. There, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements — fire, water, air and earth — to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink.

From beer to bourbon, and martinis to Manhattans, all the world's alcoholic drinks come from plants. Garden writer Amy Stewart explores the plants behind our favorite cocktails: the fruits and grains that become alcohol; the herbs that add flavor; and the garnishes and mixers that add the finishing touches.

The final volume of the World War II trilogy brings to life the Allies' brutal struggles in Normandy and at the Battle of the Bulge. It also illustrates the freeing of Paris as experienced by participants from every level of the military.

Unbroken tells the true story of a U.S. airman who survived his bomber crashing into the sea during World War II. After that, he faced thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst, starvation and a prisoner-of-war camp.

News and Reviews

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